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Gubernatorial Career

Dukakis was first elected Governor of Massachusetts in 1974. He was defeated in the 1978 Democratic primary by Edward J. King, but would return to defeat king in 1982 and be reelected Governor in 1986. He was Massachusetts' longest serving Governor.

1988 Presidential campaign

Primary

Dukakis finished third in the Iowa caucuses, but went on to win the New Hampshire primary by a considerable margin. From this point forward he led the field in the all-important accrual of delegates and managed to outlast the other Democratic hopefuls.

Defeat

Dukakis and Bentsen faced the GOP ticket of Vice President Bush and Senator Dan Quayle of Indiana. Dukakis' image and campaign were mortally wounded by his soft approach to crime as evidenced by the Willie Horton debacle. Horton, a convicted murderer, committed a violent rape and assault after being released from prison as part of a Dukakis-approved furlough program. Fueled by Bush strategist Lee Atwater, the issue became a hot-button topic during the election.

Dukakis lost the election to Bush by a wide margin, winning only ten states.